House-moving truck



S. P. GRIFFIN HOUSE MOVING TRUCK Filed Aug. 6. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 wntoz: El- F? Erm FFI N,

adonne?,

Juiie 30, 1925.

June 30. 1925;

S. P. GRIFFIN HOUSEl MOVING TRUCK y W? 4,0/ /f 1 M. N v.. n M W R I E F.

Patented June 30, 1925.

SAMUEL i?. GRIFFIN, or ORLANDO, FLORIDA.

House-1uovineY TRUCK.l

Applicatie, iiifi August 6,1924. semi No. 730,432.

To (l/ ifi/4011i 'it 'may concer/i.'

Be it known that I, SAMUEL P. GRIFFIN, a citizen of United States, residing at Orlando, in the county of Orange and State ot' Florida, have invented certain new 'and useful Improvements in Hensel/loving Trucks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the -accompanying drawing. y

The present invention relates to trucks such as are used for moving houses, buildings and other large objects, and it is an object of the invention to provide house moving trucks having novel and improved features of construction to enhance the utility and efficiency thereof.

Another object is the provision of a truck of the character indicated including three pairs of wheels and novel means for connecting said pairs of wheels-to permit of flexing action between the pairs of Wheels, for purpose ot steering and to accommodate irregularities in the surface travelled over, and such means also distributing the weight or pressure in predetermined proportions to the pairs of wheels.

i further object is the provision ot a novel connection between the first and second pair of wheels,` and for the connection ot a tongue to the first pair of wheels, to permit the first or front pair of wheels to be angled for purpose of steering about a vertical axis and to enable saidwheels to move vertically relatively to one another when passing overobstructionsron or ruts in tlie'road or surface travelledover, without other relative movements of thetwo pairs ot wheeis that might rbe objectionable.

The invention has for another object the improvement oi the construction generally in its details and arrangement of parts, so as to increase the efficiency and practica-bility ot the device. i

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention residesvinthe construction and arrangement oi parts,as hereinafter described and claimed, itV being understood that changes can be niade within the scope of what is claimed, without 'departingtroni the spirit ot theinif'ention.

f rEhe invention is illustrated in theaccom- )anying drawings7 wherein v Figure l. is al plan view of Ia set of house moving trucks and timbers supported ltherebyfor carrying the` house, building or other ObjGC- f f- Fig. 2 is an enlarged loiigitudi'nalsection on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 showing the: front truck. j j j F ig, 3 is an enlarged vsectional detail on the line 3 3 of Fig. ,2. i .1; .i

Fig. 4 is a sectionv on .theflinet-t ot Fig. 5 is. an end view ofthe' timber carrier or suppoiting:rnember oi' one .ofjtllie rear trucks showing the timber in cross section. i I' Fig.

joint.

Fig. of cross beam.

,6 is'an velevation otfa modifiedforniv of cross beam and amodied yform ofpivotl 7 is a side elevation of vanother form i Fig. 8 is a side elevation-.showing anothery form ot timber carrier for supporting inember 'for the rear truclzs..w j "I 'I j. Fig. 9 is an end view of the carrier for supporting'member shown in 8.showing the timbers in cross ysection.' Y 7 Fig. 10 is an elevation ofv stillfanother form of carrierl or supporting'member,

Fig. 11 is a side elevation illustrating modifications in the .means for connecting the first and second pair of wheels with lonefanother and for connecting ythetongue with the first pairof wheels. Fig. 12 is a section on the Fig. .11.

As shown in'Fig. y1. there is a front truck` and two rear trucks, and suchtruclrs are of the saine construction so that they`7 can be used' i,nterchangeably.l yEach truck'has three pairs ot wheels 21, l22 and 23, lwhich are of increasingdiameters from the front or first wheels rearward, as seen infFigs.` 1A and 2.

These wheels cany be of wood, metal, ormotjher I suitable material, and niay'haverubber vor cushiont-ires to avoidv iiijuryto road surfaces, planks,pavements and other surfaces over which the trucks travel.l

The first or front wheels 21v andA seconder j steering andv to also pelllit' thejaxle24 ofV said Jfront wheels 21 to oscillate inthe vertical plane of saidaxle. Thus', ablock or -member 25 of suitable metal is disposed .be-

ico

tween the wheels 21 and is formed with a pinch clamp 26 embracing the axle 24. The wheels 2l are rotatable upon the axle 24,

and the member projects upwardly from said axle. An arched beamj-27is formed at its rearend with a pinch clamp 28 embrac-.

ing the axle 29, on which the wheels 22'are mounted for rotation, with the beam `27 vof the recess 3l are hemi-spherical and fitted together snugly to permit the member 25 toturnabout the vertical axis of the stud v30. The front and rearV walls of the recess are parallel and Asnugly; against the front andv rear vertical so as to bear sides of thefstud 30,' thereby preventing Vthe. member:25fr0moscillating forwardly and rear- Y ywar'dly.relatively tothecstud 30, but the n recess 31 has itsfside walls diverging upwardly, as seen in Fig. 3,

thereby `permitting f the member 25 to oscillate transversely.

' This will permit theaxle 24 to oscillatein 'Y Y the vertical plane thereof, so that the wheels 21 can move upwardly and Vdownwardly in v'passing over obstructions on or (through Y ruts inV thev surface over which the wheels 1 travel.`

. The beam 27 and member 25V are. held assembled by thev provisionr of an annular l groove 33V`in the stud30 located in the hori- Zontalplane of the center of curvature of theend of the stud, and al set screw 34 oi" other retaining element is engaged into the krearpo'rtion of the'member'v 2,5 and projects into said grooves 33. Said set screw or element 34 is located in the axis of'oscillation ofthe axle 24 and member 25 when said axle is oscillated in the vertical plane thereof, so" that the member 25'jcan have simultaneously movements about the axes of the stud and vretaining.element 34. `In other words, the axle 24 can turn with the member 25"about the vertical axis of the" lstud 30, for purpose of steering, and, at the fsame time, the member 251ca'n oscillate transversely when the wheels move over 1rregularities in the surface traversed by the wheels. yThe groove 33 and retaining ele-V ment 34 are especially desirable to prevent the member 25 and beam 27` from becoming separated whenvthe truck is hauled aboutV when `not inuse, without a load thereon, thus l p depending pivot stud 42, similar to the stud preventing the beam 27 fromv jumping out of engagement with Vthe. member 25.I The front wheels 21 can be angled with Y the member 25 about the vertical axis of thel :stud 30, and said wheels can moveunder'the fbeam 27 when the axle 24 f gtudinal position,V j

is 'turned to a 1onvtravelled over. p bodily longitudinally or.v transversely-mlm '.initted will enablenthe' beams and Y`wheels to Thek third or rear pair of wheels 23 arev connected by a beam 35with thebeain 27, to

permit the beam 27 to turn relatively to theV beam 35 aboutV a vertical axis and to permit thebeain 27 to` oscillate in different directions relatively to the beam '35.1 ,The rear end of the beam 35 is Aformed with a pinch clamp 36 tightly embracingthe `axle 37 on which the rear wheels 23 are mounted for rotation, with the beaml35 located between said wheels 23. lThe clamps 26, 28 and 36 have bosses at their oppositeends for spacingthe wheels from` the member 25 and beams 27 andi35, and by usingsuch memberv and beams the "wheels of each pair 'can be located jclosely together, so tliatthe constru'ctionis strong 'and' compact. n

thevbeamr .35 projects over thebeam 27 andis'forined with'a det The forward end of pending pivot fstudf38 enteringa recess 39 formed in the crest of thebeam 27 vbetween Y the ends of said beam. The beam 27 curves downwardly from the'stud 38 andf recess 39 `to the forward and rear ends ofsaid beam 27 The stud 38 and side wall of the recess- 39 are of cylindrical'form with the recess of larger kdiameter than'the stud so'that the "stud canchave horizontal movements in the recess indifferent directions.- The endv of' the stud 38 and bottom of the recess 39have the convexed and concaved surfaces 40 iitp ting snugly together, toV permit the beam 27 to oscillateV in different directions relatively to the beam 35 as the wheels v2l and 22 pass over irregularities on the surface The beam 27 can also shift tively to the beam 35 until the stud 38 comes into Contact with the side wall of the recess 39,' The sides of the stud38 and wall ofthe recess being'vertioal will limitxthe relative moven'ie'n-t.ofthe beams,wwi.tliout thepossibility of* the stud 38 pimping out of the i'ecess-"39, and the flexingjinovement thus perconform touneven surfaces, and the beamsv -'can shift longitudinally and `transversely relatively to one another as ywell as being capable of relative oscillation. Y

Each truck has a carrier orsupporting member on the beam 35, and'different car-4 riers or supporting members can be used. for A the f ront and rear trucks and for different Y. conditions.V As shown in Figs. l, 2 and 4,

the carrier or supporting vmember for the front truck is a cross vbeam 41 of nieta] and Vl-shaped cross section. The beam orvca'rrier 4l is yformed intermediate its:ends with a.

vexed andgconcaved, as at 44, so that the `beamer carrier 41v can have the same move- 1.30 v

Maaate ments relatively to the beam 35 that the beam 35 has relatively to the beam 27. The beam or carrier 41 can shift longitudinally and transversely relatively to the beam 35 as well as to oscillate in different directions. The terminals of the beam 41 are oll'set downwardly, as at 45, to support the timbers 46 which support the house, building` or other object. By offsetting the terminals 45 downwardly, the supporting surfaces thereof are located in a horizontal plane just slightly above the beam 35, thereby enabling the forward ends of the timbers 46 to be located in the same horizontal plane as the rear ends thereof which are supported by the rear trucks, as will presently appear. Also, by offsetting the terminals 45 ot' the beam 41 this will reduce to a minimum the tendency for the beam 41 to be tilted by tor sional strain when the beam '35 is pulled vto transmit the pull to the beam 41 by way et the stud 42, inasmuch as the terminals 45 are close to the horizontal plane of the point of contact between the beams and 41.

The carriers or supporting members 47 of the rear trucks are of channel shape so as to receive the timbers 4G between `the u pstanding flanges thereof, and said `carriers or members 46 can have depending central pivot studs 48 to seat in the recesses 43 ot the beams 35 of the rear trucks. It will be apparent that the beam 41, carriers 47 and other carriers or supporting members having` depending pivot studs, similar to the studs 42 and 48, can be used interchangeablyl on the beams 35 ot' the several trucks'. l*`1utber1n n'e, the wheels 21 and 22 otl each truck can be used without the wheels 23, by removing the beam 35 from the beam 27, and the beam 41, carriers or members 47, and other interchangeable carriers can be placed on the beams 2'7 inasmuch as the recesses 39 are ot the same formation as the recesses 43 so as to receive the .pivot studs 4t2 and 48. It is thus possible to use the carriers or supporting members on the beams 27 as well as the beams 35, with either two or three pairs lof wheels for each truck..

The rear ends ot the beams 27 and B3 are provided with rearwardly extending hooks 49 by means of which the trucks can be hitched together, one behind the other, tor haulingl the trucks trom one place to another in a train, and bolts or pins 50'are ouganeable downwardly through apertures in the hooks 4f) to lioldthe parts coupled together. rthe rear end olz each beam 27 has a depending apertured ear 51 for the connection ot a chain, `cable or rope to be used tor pulling Athe rear end Aot the beam 2.7, such as for purpose lof steering or to apply a strain at this pointof the truck tor other reasons.

A forwardly extending tongue 52 is connected to the member 25 of each truck.;`

`permit of limited"forward and rearv.

vmember 25.

movem nts of the tongue relatively to theV men'ibcr will permit of 'tiexingaction'that Thus, the rear terminal of the tongue is disposed within a forwardly extending vsocket versely through thesidc walls ot the socket and through' the tongue. for pivota-lly con- 'nc-cting theltongue with the' socket, and the side walls of the socketvhave longitudinal slots :36in which thebolt is slidableto urd. movement of the longue relatively to the The velical and longitudinal may be essential under some conditions, although the tongue can be secured firmly in the socket 53, it desired, ywithout any freedom of movement between the tongue and mber The top and bottom of the sccl :i3 have apertures 57 near the forward end ot the socket for the connection of a cable, rope, chain or other tlexible elennlit which is connected to the truck for pulling' saine, it being' preferable te cennect the iexible element through the lower rlhe top and bottom oli' thev dll() ap rturc 57' so that the power is applied in an e'tlecti've manner directly in fronto'tthe axle member is secured on the Yforward terminal oil the tongue 52 of each truck. y 'v The stirrnps 58 of the rear trucks, as secu in Fir'. 1, engage bands 59 that. cross timber G0 extendingbelow the timbers 4G, so that the rear trucks are. t 'ailed from the timber GO. By having the tongues ot the rear trucks slidable and capable of vcrtical oscillation in the sockets, this will per-- mit the trent wheels 21 ol' the-rear`V` trucks to move up vardly 'and downwardly over uneven surfaces without the parts binding or breaking` between the timber (it) and the rear trucks. The timbers 4G may be either .single or double timbers.

Fig'. 6 shows a cross beam 41" havinn` the downwardly otl'set terminals 45a, with square angles at the offsets, whereas the oi'lsets of the beam 41. shown inV Fin: 4 are inclined or oblique. it modilicd swivel jointis also shown. 1 Thus, the beam 35 has an upstanding pivot stud 421 and the bjcan'i 41 has a lower recess Qt-receiving the stud, said recess being of inverted conical form or increasing in diameter upwardly to permit the beamsrto oscillate in different directions relatively to one another, and the contactstirrup 5S or other coupling` embrace a lltl z ing portions 44` of the beamsare convexcd so as to, rock againstA one another, vwith the `endV of Vthe stud 42a spaced from the vbeam 41 which has its opposite halves diverging from the centertudinal upstanding 'flange 47 to be disposedv between the timbers, thus providing a strong construction. The same swivel joint between the plate 47a and beam 85a is used'as shown in Fig. G, Vthe. plate having alower central recess 48 to receive the upstanding stud 42nfof the beam 35, and the lower surtongue 52a. p

has the pinch clamp 26a embracing` the axlefi e Q ber 25 in liront ot the tongue,` and dra'i'tVV ltace of the plate '47 is inclinedyin all directions from the recess 43 tothe edges or margin of the'plate, to permit the plate to rock on the beam. Y l

vFig. 10shows a simple carrier plate or supporting member 471 having the lower recess 43b to Venga-ge on the pivot stud 421l of the beam et asshown in Figs. 6 and 8.

lliligs. 11 and 12 illustrate a modified connection between the beam 27, axle 24n and ri`he member 25 is hollow and 24, and the forward terminal of the beam 27 overlaps and rests on the top of the member 25. Said member has an .upstandingpivo't stud 30 andthe beam 27a has the recess o r opening 31L receiving said stud and increasing in diameter upwardly to'v permit the beani and inemberio oscillate transverse ly! relatively to one another.' However, the

beam overlapping the member will prevent" Vtliemeinber 25? is convexed as at 321,10 :permit 'said beam Vand member to oscillate transversely relatively to one another. The ysocket 53 for the tongue 52nvoverlap`s and is bolted or otherwise secured on the memlinks 5T extend under the top of the meinber'lv and Vengage a Vbolt or pin 57 en-` gaged transversely through thesides ot' the iiieinlier near the forward edge of said Viiieiiibei.` The draft cable, chain or 'flexible element is connected lo the 4liiilis .57, to apply 'the strain to the member 25, and

`'other parts oit the truck, the vsainegas. `iri without using the `tongue the first forni, for transmitting the vpulling strain.Y The trucks, with their interchangeable K carriers or supporting members, are capable of conveniently supporting the timbers 461 lon which the house,V building or other Vobl ject is vmounted.` "The terminals ofi the ,cross beam-41 being offset downwardly will .be located in the same horizontal plane with the carriers or members 47, so thatthe timbers 46 will be horizontal, without requiring the -front portion of the house orA building to be raisedY higher than the rear portion thereof, which has Ybeen required by trucks used heretofore. The' trucks are freely flexible so that the wheels thereofy can adjust themselves to irregularities .onv the surface travelled over, and intermediate and rear wheels of eachl truck will follow .the path ofthe front wheels and ,turns` are made conveniently.v `Not only can the yfront wheels of each truck be moved under the beam 27, but the front1and-intermediate wheels andbeam 27 canlmove under the beam 35,* thus` providing for convenient steering to negotiate turns and t'o,4 also enable, the object to be moved at an'angle.

Thus, by loosening .thextongues of Lthe rear trucks from theftimber 60,the frontiwheels Ill of each truck can be turned `at an angle .to

ymove the object at an angle-tothe-previous line of movemei'it.V This'will` permit the building tobe shifted indifferent directions so as. to be properly positioned wheny itfhas been moved -to its destination.

lAs will be noted in Fig. 2, the .joint between the beam or carrier v41`and the beam V35 is above the front portions of the wheels 23V closer to the vertical plane of: the axle '37 ythan tothe joint between the beams 27 and' 35, so that the` wheels 23 receive a greater amount of the pressure transmitted bythe beam or carrier `41 to the truck than `dothe wheels`21' and 22. Y joint between the beams 27 and 35 is lo`ca.t ed above the front portions of the wheels 22r nearer to the vertical plane of the axle 2S) than to thejoint between the beam 27 and member 25,*'so that the :wheels 22ieceive a greater amount of pressure than thefront wheels 21.v In other Words, the wheels21,'22 and 23 receive pressuressomewhat'in'propor- Vtion tothe diameters ofthe wheels, -so that the pressurey or weight of the object supported bythe trucks'is distributed-to the wheels 'ofeach ruckrin atleast approximate proportions to the'diaineters oi the wheels. This will facilitate steering inasmuch as the Vfront wheels can be angledmore easily than if greater pressure lwas exerted thereon, and

the larger the Wheels the greater is their capacity for supporting the' weight imposed thereon. v 'Y Having thus described the invention, lwhat is claimed as new vis y yY I K 1. lA truck of the. character j describedv lll) Similarly, the Y i-A v comprising a plurality of pairs of wheelsV located one behind the other and inereasiiig i Y in diameter from'the. front Wheels rearward-v ly, an axle for eachflpairfl of wheels, means Y connected to thev axlesfbetween the wheels of the several pairs and vhaving flexible joints for the angling of the axlesl about vertical axes relatively to one anotherand for the oscillation of the axles relatively to y named beam, anu a ing a flexible connection with the named beam, the two last named fie:- connections being so arranged that pressure from said member jlistributed to the wheels in vappr'ox-miete proportion to vthe diameters of the wheels,v

prising freni', intermediate and vr pairs of wheelsof increasing' diameter from th front wheels rearwardly, each pair of wheels having an axle, a member between the front wheels engaging the axle thereof, a beam between the intermediate wheels engaging the axle thereof and having a swivel joint with said member, a beam between the rear wheels engaging the axle thereof and having a swivel joint with the irstnamed beam, and a supporting member having a swivel joint with the seeondnamed beam, said swivel joints being so arranged that pressure from the supporting member is distributed to the wheels in approximate proportion to the diameters of the wheels.

et. A truck of the character described comprising front, intermediate and rear pairs of wheels of increasing diameter from the front wheels rearwardly, each pair of wheels having an axle, a member between the front wheels engaging the axle thereof, a. beam projecting between the intermediate wheels and engaging the axle thereof, said member and beam having a swivel oint for the relative turning movements of said member and axle about a vertical axis and permitting said member and beam to oscillate transversely, a beam projecting between the rear wheels and engaging the axle thereof,the secondnamed beam projecting over the firstnamed beam and said beams having a swivel joint for the relative turning movements of the beams about a vertical axis and permitting the beams to oscillate relatively to oneV another, and a supporting member having a swivel joint with the secondnamed beam for turning and oscillatory movements relatively to the secondnamed beam, said swivel joints being so arranged that pressure from A truck of the character described com# the supporting member is distributed to the wheels lin approximate proportion to the diameters of the wheels. v

' 5. A truck of the character described comprising a beam, wheels' supporting said beam, Vandv a member supported by said beam, said member and beam having a swivel joint including a recess and a stud within the recess, said recess being of larger diameter than the stud with a clearance between the 'wall of the recess andsides of the stud for the movement of the stud in the recess in different directions, andthe end of the stud and bottom of the recess being curved for the rocking movement of the member .and beam relatively to one another.` A trucl of the character described com- 4ing' front, intermediate and rear wheels, 'l am cennected to the intermediate wheels ravin-fra flexible joint with the front i Je, a-beam connected to the rear wheels, the b. tions llexioly connecting the A"beams, and a supporting member on the secondnamed beam, said supporting member and secondnamed beam havin ff interengaging i oint portions similar to the aforesaid joint portions for flexibly Vconnecting said member with the secondnamed beam and permitting the sul porting member to similarly engage the lirstnamed beam when the secondnamed beam is removed therefrom.

T. A truck of the characterdescribed coinprising a longitudinal beam, wheels supporting said beam, and a cross beam extending across the lirstnamed beam and having a swivel joint therewith, the terminals "of the cross beam beingl offset downwardly to v a horizontal planeA close to said joint.

8. A. truck of the character described comprising front, intermediate and rear pairs of wheels each having an axle, a member between the front wheels engaging the axle thereof, a beam extending between the intermediate wheels and engaging. the axle thereof, the forward end of said beambearl ing on said member and said member and' beam having a swivel joint permitting said member and beam to turn relatively about a Avertical axis and also arranged to permit said member and beam to oscillate trans. versely relatively to one another, a beam having its rear end extending the rear wheels and connected to the axle thereof, the forward end of the secondnamed beam extending over the irstnamed beam and bearing thereon, the beams having a swivel joint for the turning movement of the beams relatively to one another about a vertical axis and also permitting the beams to oscillate relatively to one another, and a sup-l porting member bearing on the secondnamed beam, said supporting memberv and secondnamed beam having a swivel joint permitting them to turn relatively to one another s having interengaging rjoint por- K rear wheels, AeachV beam having an upper recess, the secondnamed beam having a de-` peiid'ingstud to engage in the recessot the fiirstiiamedbeam :tor turning and oscillatory Vmovements of the beams relatively to one another, and a supporting' member having a vdepending stud to engage in either recess Afor the turning and oscillatory movement.

of said member relatively to either beam. i y 10. Atruck of the character described kcomprising front, intermediate and rear wheels,

a'beam connected tothe intermediate wheelsV and having a swivel ]o1nt connection with the front wheels, a beam connected to the 'Y vvrear wheels, each of `the beams having an *upper recess "with af concaved bottom, vvthe secondnamed beam having a depending studwith a convexed end to. seat in the recess oftherrstnamed beam, and a support ing member having'a depending studr with a 'convexed end to seat in the recess of either beam, 'said recess beingof larger diameters than said studs.

` :11. A truck of the Acharacter described in cluding two pairs of wheels each having an axle, Va member secured on the axle of one 1 pair of wheels between said wheels and having an upper recess, and a beam extending between therwheels of the y'otherpair and engaging the axle thereof,A said beam lhaving a depending boss seated insaid recess., theY Aend of the boss and bottom of the recess being'V herrn-spherical and the sides of the recess diverging 'upwardly to permit saidy member and firstnamed axle to voscillate inV the vertical `plane of said axle and to turn vabout the axis of said .bossi V l2. Atruck of the character described in-r cluding two pairs of .wheels eachhaving an.

axle, a member secured-on the axleoi one pair of -wheels between said wheels and having an. upperjrecess, a beam extending between the wheels of the other pair and engagingfthe axle thereof, said beam having a Vdepending boss seated in said recess, the end of theboss. and bottom of the .recess .being hemi-spherical and the sides of the,r

recess diverging upwardly to permit'said member and firstnamed axle to oscillatein l .the vertical plane vof said-axle and tojturii about the axis of vsaidV boss, said boss'hawl ing 1an annular groove adjacent tothefend thereof, and a retaining velement carried by said member projectingint'o said wheeland located in the axis of oscillation kof said member and beamV relatively to onefanother in the` vertical plane ofthe firstnamed axle.

In testimony .whereofv hereuntoailixmy signature.'l

sAixiUEL.V P. GRIFFIN. Vitnesses: i Y l n '-lVLA. Mora,

' E. M.. CoNDIT. 

